What does it mean to live with questions?

Questions bring a vast array of possible intentions, and too often, uninvited expectations.

Sometimes questions feel bad – expecting confidence, not weakness.
Other times, questions seem good – as if expressing a curiosity, a desire to learn and explore.
Often, questions feel condemning or judgmental – bringing on shame or ridicule.
And once in a while, questions express vulnerability – an honest, open, child-like innocence that reveals our true self.

In this year’s Advent series, I invite you to join me as we take a look at four Advent questions from the gospel of Luke. We’ll look at the context of the question in their day, and how the questions from the ancients might relate to us in our day.

This week’s question:

And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this?
For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”

(Luke 1:18, ESV)

We first meet Zechariah in Luke chapter 1, where Luke tells us that both Zechariah, a priest, and his wife Elizabeth were “… righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.” (vv. 6-7).

While Zechariah was performing his priestly duties before the Lord one day, an angel appeared before him. Understandably, Zechariah was fearful – had he displeased God? Was his life about to end?
Thankfully, the angel quickly reassured Zechariah that he was bringing good news – that God had heard his prayers, and that he and his wife were going to have a son. And not just any son, but a son that would prepare the world for the coming of the Messiah.

What was the nature of Zechariah’s question? Did he ask in expectation, or in maybe in doubt? After all, he and his wife were both old, and common sense (as well as their physical bodies) told them they were far beyond childbearing years.

Many centuries before Zechariah, a similar situation took place. In Genesis 18, Abraham and Sarah welcome some heavenly visitors that announce that Sarah will have a baby by the following year. Similar to Zechariah and Elizabeth, the text tells us that Abraham and Sarah were advanced in years, and the opportunity for childbearing had left them long ago.

Sarah’s reaction? She laughed!

God’s response? He kept His promise, and had the last joyful laugh, as Isaac was born.
In fact, Isaac’s name means “he laughs” (read more about Isaac’s birth in Genesis chapter 21).

So back to our text. What was Zechariah’s response? He asked the angel for a sign that the angel’s words were true.

The angel honored Zechariah’s question with not one sign, but two:

First, the angel gave Zechariah a sign by telling him his name: Gabriel, the same angel that spoke to Daniel (Daniel 9:21) about the future restoration of Israel after its disobedience and God’s judgment upon the nation. Gabriel carried the weight of God’s words to the world, and with those words, all of God’s faithfulness, holiness, love, and responsibility to Zechariah.

The angel also gave Zechariah a second sign: Zechariah would be unable to speak and hear until his son was born. This was a mild, temporary rebuke for Zechariah’s lack of faith.

So what is our response when God speaks to us? While we may not have an angel such as Gabriel visit us, the Lord may show us something from the Bible, words from a friend, or maybe something that He lays on our hearts.

What do we do with those words or thoughts? Quickly dismiss them in the name of common sense?
Or pause and ponder, “I wonder what God is up to?“

God loves to surprise us, to surpass our expectations, and demonstrate His lavish love for us.
Before we dismiss something as out of the question, remember God’s words to Sarah, when she laughed about having a baby in her old age…

Is anything too hard for the LORD?

(Genesis 18:14, ESV)

May we live with God’s question back to Sarah – is anything too hard for the Lord? –
as we walk with God this week.

Blessings,
~kevin